38 MATHESIS. 



activity, both being one ; for gravity is itself the 

 activity, and itself the matter. Matter is only limited 

 activity. A matter which does not move is not ; it can 

 only subsist through continuous origination, through life. 

 There is no dead matter ; it is alive through its being, 

 through the eternal that is in it. Matter has no exist- 

 ence in itself, but it is the Eternal only that exists in it. 

 Everything is God, that is there, and without God there 

 is absolutely nothing. 



163. It is an illusion to believe that matter were an 

 actual something subsisting in itself. It is even so with 

 numbers, upon which a reality also is bestowed, when 

 they are still demonstrable nothings. A number is 

 nothing truly than an affirmation several times re- 

 peated, a reiterated deposition of what is nothing, what is 

 no number. This deposition happens likewise in the 

 universe, where it is the primary act, that is deposited. 

 Where, however, this is, no other station can occur. 

 This exclusive property is usually called the Impenetrable, 

 the Material. It cannot be said in what spot matter 

 arises, so secretly and suddenly does it start into exist- 

 ence. It is matter properly at the first manifestation of 

 being, of time and of space ; for at the same instant also 

 the line, surface, density and gravity have been given. 

 The line does not exist if it does not act ; the sphere 

 does not exist if it be not inert, i. e. if its forces do not 

 strive towards the centre, and consequently to connexion. 

 Nothing exists if it is not material. Matter is accord- 

 ingly coexistent with the presence of God. 



164. The Immaterial does not exist; for even the 

 Material which is not, is the Immaterial. Everything 

 that is, is material. Now, however, there is nothing 

 that is not; consequently, there is everywhere nothing 

 immaterial. Immateriality is only an inventive principle, 

 by which to get at matter, like the in mathematics, 

 which is nothing in itself, does not even exist, but that 

 still must be posited, in order that numbers may bear a 

 reference to it. 



165. God only is immaterial; he is the only per- 



